Here’s looking at you this Valentine’s Day

Listen up, guys, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and you know what that means? Mixed messages, the stress of not knowing if you are going to get it right this year, and when she says she doesn’t care about Valentine’s Day – does she really mean it? “Valentine’s Day comes down to the age-old question – what do women want?” says Themba Ndlovu, brand manager for Clere For Men. “Men have been trying to understand women for years and the truth is no man has been able to crack the code. But where does that leave us this Valentine’s Day?” Ndlovu offers the following tips on how to enjoy a (hopefully) stress-free Valentine’s Day:

• Listen. She may not be telling you directly and in detail what she wants for Valentine’s Day, but she will be leaving clues along the way. If she is still on a diet from the holidays, don’t buy her a mountain of chocolate, but don’t go and buy her a gym membership either.
• If you are going to buy her flowers, make sure they are her favourite. Don’t know what those are? Then find out; do some research, chat to her friends and scroll through her Instagram feed; whatever it takes. Also, take the time to go into a florist and buy them.
• Book in advance. If you decide to take her out for a romantic dinner, turning up at the restaurant and expecting a free table is a definite no – there won’t be one. You’ll be standing there with an unimpressed partner, along with the 10 other guys who were expecting the same thing as you; plus, their unhappy partners, and women like to talk. This won’t end well for you.
• Sometimes, it’s not about going out, but staying in – Netflix and chill style. Make dinner at home, sit around a romantic table or a picnic in the lounge or garden, says ‘I care’ even more than a busy restaurant. Just make sure you include some of her favourite foods, and if she is allergic to shellfish, oysters are out of the question – no matter how romantic they may look in the movies.
• No matter if you’re staying in, or going out, make the effort to look good; she will. There is no need to don a tuxedo or reach for the shoes that you only wear at weddings, but a quick shower, and a little fragrance can go a long way. There’s no denying that a scent, especially a good one, can bring on a whole host of happy hormones. Clere For Men’s body lotions and crèmes available in four masculine scents – Storm, Ice, Fire and the newest one, Legend – will keep you smelling and feeling fresh this Valentine’s Day (and every other day in between), and will create all those loved up, happy feelings between you and partner, that you’re after. The Clere For Men range is enriched with Glycerine and Vitamins E & A which keep the skin moisturised for 48 hours, and is formulated to keep it soft, supple and feeling good (especially to the touch!).
• Hint: Each woman is different and spoiling your loved one should be more about who she is and what she likes, rather than about what you think she likes.

The Clere For Men range is available in a 400ml lotion and 450ml crème at leading retailers nationwide.